Endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria was orally administered in 5 female pigs and 8 male goats. Two of the gilts were pregnant. A solution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Enterobacter agglomerans was mixed into the feed ration of the pigs (40 mg/animal), and given by gastric tube into the rumen of the goats (1 -20 mg/animal). Jugular venous blood was collected and clinical signs, rectal temperature and WBC counts were recorded for 12-24 hours. Plasma concentrations of the major plasma metabolite of PGFZu, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGFZcL were determined in both species, progesterone concentration only in pigs.The pigs showed slight to severe signs of endotoxemia. Increases in rectal temperature and levels of the PGF?,, metabolite occurred in 3 gilts. Progesterone level and the total WBC counts remained unchanged. Differential counts followed irregular patterns mostly within the normal range. The goats showed slight signs of discomfort. Temperature increased in one animal. No other parameters were altered after the intake of LPS. The observations in pigs indicate that endotoxin either penetrated the intestinal barrier causing systemic endotoxemia o r induced inflammatory reactions in the intestine activating inflammatory mediators.

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Objectives. Cigarette smoking causes cardiovascular (CV) disease, but the relative roles of nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke remain unclear. We investigated the effect of stopping smoking, by using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), on haemorheology parameters. Design. Open, parallel-group trial (intervention group and control smokers). Setting. Clinic within university department of pharmacology. Subjects. One hundred and ninety-seven males, aged 25-45 years, smoking >20 cigarettes per day. Interventions. One hundred and sixty-four subjects were instructed to stop smoking and received NRT for 12 weeks and 33 acted as controls. After 12 weeks, NRT was discontinued, and all subjects were followed-up at 26 weeks. At the end of the study, the NRT group was divided into abstainers (self-reported, verified by exhaled carbon monoxide <10 ppm) and relapsers, who were unable to remain abstinent. Main outcome measures. Plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, erythrocyte deformability, reactive capillary blood flow, transcutaneous partial oxygen tension (tcpO 2 ) and haematocrit, assessed at 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks. Results. After 6 months, plasma fibrinogen (9.95 vs. 8.24 lmol L -1 at baseline; P < 0.003), reactive capillary flow (t-p max : 9.3 vs. 11.2 s at baseline; P < 0.005), and tcpO 2 (50.4 vs. 34.9 mmHg at baseline; P < 0.0001) were significantly improved in abstainers, but changes in plasma viscosity and erythrocyte deformability were inconclusive. Other CV risk factors, such as haematocrit and white blood cell count, decreased to a greater extent in abstainers than in relapsers. Expired carbon monoxide concentrations reflected the changes in smoking and decreased in abstainers from 30.4 ppm at baseline to 4.2 ppm; P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Smoking cessation improved CV parameters, and use of nicotine medications did not negate these improvements.

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